The Slx5-Slx8 complex affects sumoylation of DNA repair proteins and negatively regulates recombination

DNA replication: Mechanisms and therapeutic interventions for diseases

Accurate and integral cellular DNA replication is modulated by multiple replication-associated proteins, which is fundamental to preserve genome stability. Furthermore, replication proteins cooperate with multiple DNA damage factors to deal with replication stress through mechanisms beyond their role in replication. Cancer cells with chronic replication stress exhibit aberrant DNA replication and DNA damage response, providing an exploitable therapeutic target in tumors. Numerous evidence has indicated that posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of replication proteins present distinct functions in DNA replication and respond to replication stress. In addition, abundant replication proteins are involved in tumorigenesis and development, which act as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in some tumors, implying these proteins act as therapeutic targets in clinical. Replication-target cancer therapy emerges as the times require. In this context, we outline the current investigation of the DNA replication mechanism, and simultaneously enumerate the aberrant expression of replication proteins as hallmark for various diseases, revealing their therapeutic potential for target therapy. Meanwhile, we also discuss current observations that the novel PTM of replication proteins in response to replication stress, which seems to be a promising strategy to eliminate diseases.

SLX5 deletion confers tolerance to oxidative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Slx5, a subunit of a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) in yeast, has been implicated in maintenance of genomic stability. SUMOylation is an important post-translational modification involved in the regulation of several important cellular processes and cellular response to various environmental stressors. Oxidative stress occurs when production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the antioxidant defense capacity of the cell. Elevated ROS levels cause oxidative damage to important cellular macromolecules such as DNA, lipids and proteins, which is associated with several diseases. Herein, we investigated the role of Slx5 in oxidative stress tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that deletion of SLX5 increases survival of yeast cells in response to H2O2-induced oxidative stress in a cell cycle independent manner. Accumulation of intracellular ROS as well as DNA and lipid damages were reduced; expressions of antioxidant defense mechanism related genes were increased in slx5Δ cells compared to wild type (WT) under oxidative stress. We also show that slx5Δ cells have increased intracellular ROS levels and oxidative damage to DNA and lipids compared to WT in the absence of oxidative stress. Thus, our data together suggest that an adaptive stress induced by SLX5 deletion increases tolerance to oxidative stress in slx5∆ cells.

RNF4 Regulates the BLM Helicase in Recovery From Replication Fork Collapse

Sumoylation is an important enhancer of responses to DNA replication stress and the SUMO-targeted ubiquitin E3 ligase RNF4 regulates these responses by ubiquitylation of sumoylated DNA damage response factors. The specific targets and functional consequences of RNF4 regulation in response to replication stress, however, have not been fully characterized. Here we demonstrated that RNF4 is required for the restart of DNA replication following prolonged hydroxyurea (HU)-induced replication stress. Contrary to its role in repair of γ-irradiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), our analysis revealed that RNF4 does not significantly impact recognition or repair of replication stress-associated DSBs. Rather, using DNA fiber assays, we found that the firing of new DNA replication origins, which is required for replication restart following prolonged stress, was inhibited in cells depleted of RNF4. We also provided evidence that RNF4 recognizes and ubiquitylates sumoylated Bloom syndrome DNA helicase BLM and thereby promotes its proteosome-mediated turnover at damaged DNA replication forks. Consistent with it being a functionally important RNF4 substrate, co-depletion of BLM rescued defects in the firing of new replication origins observed in cells depleted of RNF4 alone. We concluded that RNF4 acts to remove sumoylated BLM from collapsed DNA replication forks, which is required to facilitate normal resumption of DNA synthesis after prolonged replication fork stalling and collapse.

DNA asymmetry promotes SUMO modification of the single-stranded DNA-binding protein RPA

Repair of DNA double‐stranded breaks by homologous recombination (HR) is dependent on DNA end resection and on post‐translational modification of repair factors. In budding yeast, single‐stranded DNA is coated by replication protein A (RPA) following DNA end resection, and DNA–RPA complexes are then SUMO‐modified by the E3 ligase Siz2 to promote repair. Here, we show using enzymatic assays that DNA duplexes containing 3' single‐stranded DNA overhangs increase the rate of RPA SUMO modification by Siz2. The SAP domain of Siz2 binds DNA duplexes and makes a key contribution to this process as highlighted by models and a crystal structure of Siz2 and by assays performed using protein mutants. Enzymatic assays performed using DNA that can accommodate multiple RPA proteins suggest a model in which the SUMO‐RPA signal is amplified by successive rounds of Siz2‐dependent SUMO modification of RPA and dissociation of SUMO‐RPA at the junction between single‐ and double‐stranded DNA. Our results provide insights on how DNA architecture scaffolds a substrate and E3 ligase to promote SUMO modification in the context of DNA repair.

SUMO-Targeted Ubiquitin Ligases and Their Functions in Maintaining Genome Stability

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-targeted E3 ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) are specialized enzymes that recognize SUMOylated proteins and attach ubiquitin to them. They therefore connect the cellular SUMOylation and ubiquitination circuits. STUbLs participate in diverse molecular processes that span cell cycle regulated events, including DNA repair, replication, mitosis, and transcription. They operate during unperturbed conditions and in response to challenges, such as genotoxic stress. These E3 ubiquitin ligases modify their target substrates by catalyzing ubiquitin chains that form different linkages, resulting in proteolytic or non-proteolytic outcomes. Often, STUbLs function in compartmentalized environments, such as the nuclear envelope or kinetochore, and actively aid in nuclear relocalization of damaged DNA and stalled replication forks to promote DNA repair or fork restart. Furthermore, STUbLs reside in the same vicinity as SUMO proteases and deubiquitinases (DUBs), providing spatiotemporal control of their targets. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms by which STUbLs help to maintain genome stability across different species.

Rad52 SUMOylation functions as a molecular switch that determines a balance between the Rad51- and Rad59-dependent survivors

Functional telomeres in yeast lacking telomerase can be restored by rare Rad51- or Rad59-dependent recombination events that lead to type I and type II survivors, respectively. We previously proposed that polySUMOylation of proteins and the SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase Slx5-Slx8 are key factors in type II recombination. Here, we show that SUMOylation of Rad52 favors the formation of type I survivors. Conversely, preventing Rad52 SUMOylation partially bypasses the requirement of Slx5-Slx8 for type II recombination. We further report that SUMO-dependent proteasomal degradation favors type II recombination. Finally, inactivation of Rad59, but not Rad51, impairs the relocation of eroded telomeres to the Nuclear Pore complexes (NPCs). We propose that Rad59 cooperates with non-SUMOylated Rad52 to promote type II recombination at NPCs, resulting in the emergence of more robust survivors akin to ALT cancer cells. Finally, neither Rad59 nor Rad51 is required by itself for the survival of established type II survivors.

Irc20 Regulates the Yeast Endogenous 2-μm Plasmid Levels by Controlling Flp1

The endogenous yeast 2-μm plasmid while innocuous to the host, needs to be properly regulated to avoid a toxic increase in copy number. The plasmid copy number control system is under the control of the plasmid encoded recombinase, Flp1. In case of a drop in 2-μm plasmid levels due to rare plasmid mis-segregation events, the Flp1 recombinase together with the cell’s homologous recombination machinery, produce multiple copies of the 2-μm plasmid that are spooled during DNA replication. The 2-μm plasmid copy number is tightly regulated by controlled expression of Flp1 as well as its ubiquitin and SUMO modification. Here, we identify a novel regulator of the 2-μm plasmid, the ATPase, ubiquitin ligase, Irc20. Irc20 was initially identified as a homologous recombination regulator, and here we uncover a new role for Irc20 in maintaining the 2-μm plasmid copy number and segregation through regulating Flp1 protein levels in the cell.

A natural variant of the essential host gene MMS21 restricts the parasitic 2-micron plasmid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Antagonistic coevolution with selfish genetic elements (SGEs) can drive evolution of host resistance. Here, we investigated host suppression of 2-micron (2μ) plasmids, multicopy nuclear parasites that have co-evolved with budding yeasts. We developed SCAMPR (Single-Cell Assay for Measuring Plasmid Retention) to measure copy number heterogeneity and 2μ plasmid loss in live cells. We identified three S. cerevisiae strains that lack endogenous 2μ plasmids and reproducibly inhibit mitotic plasmid stability. Focusing on the Y9 ragi strain, we determined that plasmid restriction is heritable and dominant. Using bulk segregant analysis, we identified a high-confidence Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) with a single variant of MMS21 associated with increased 2μ instability. MMS21 encodes a SUMO E3 ligase and an essential component of the Smc5/6 complex, involved in sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome segregation, and DNA repair. Our analyses leverage natural variation to uncover a novel means by which budding yeasts can overcome highly successful genetic parasites.

Replication protein A: a multifunctional protein with roles in DNA replication, repair and beyond

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) forms continuously during DNA replication and is an important intermediate during recombination-mediated repair of damaged DNA. Replication protein A (RPA) is the major eukaryotic ssDNA-binding protein. As such, RPA protects the transiently formed ssDNA from nucleolytic degradation and serves as a physical platform for the recruitment of DNA damage response factors. Prominent and well-studied RPA-interacting partners are the tumor suppressor protein p53, the RAD51 recombinase and the ATR-interacting proteins ATRIP and ETAA1. RPA interactions are also documented with the helicases BLM, WRN and SMARCAL1/HARP, as well as the nucleotide excision repair proteins XPA, XPG and XPF–ERCC1. Besides its well-studied roles in DNA replication (restart) and repair, accumulating evidence shows that RPA is engaged in DNA activities in a broader biological context, including nucleosome assembly on nascent chromatin, regulation of gene expression, telomere maintenance and numerous other aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. In addition, novel RPA inhibitors show promising effects in cancer treatment, as single agents or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Since the biochemical properties of RPA and its roles in DNA repair have been extensively reviewed, here we focus on recent discoveries describing several non-canonical functions.

A Flp-SUMO hybrid recombinase reveals multi-layered copy number control of a selfish DNA element through post-translational modification

Mechanisms for highly efficient chromosome-associated equal segregation, and for maintenance of steady state copy number, are at the heart of the evolutionary success of the 2-micron plasmid as a stable multi-copy extra-chromosomal selfish DNA element present in the yeast nucleus. The Flp site-specific recombination system housed by the plasmid, which is central to plasmid copy number maintenance, is regulated at multiple levels. Transcription of the FLP gene is fine-tuned by the repressor function of the plasmid-coded partitioning proteins Rep1 and Rep2 and their antagonist Raf1, which is also plasmid-coded. In addition, the Flp protein is regulated by the host’s post-translational modification machinery. Utilizing a Flp-SUMO fusion protein, which functionally mimics naturally sumoylated Flp, we demonstrate that the modification signals ubiquitination of Flp, followed by its proteasome-mediated degradation. Furthermore, reduced binding affinity and cooperativity of the modified Flp decrease its association with the plasmid FRT (Flp recombination target) sites, and/or increase its dissociation from them. The resulting attenuation of strand cleavage and recombination events safeguards against runaway increase in plasmid copy number, which is deleterious to the host—and indirectly—to the plasmid. These results have broader relevance to potential mechanisms by which selfish genomes minimize fitness conflicts with host genomes by holding in check the extra genetic load they pose.

Plasmids of budding yeasts, exemplified by the 2-micron plasmid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and mammalian papilloma and gammaherpes viruses typify eukaryotic extra-chromosomal selfish DNA elements. The plasmid and the viral episomes, despite the long evolutionary divergence of their hosts, share striking similarities in lifestyles. These include the ability to segregate to daughter cells by hitchhiking on chromosomes and to switch from cell cycle regulated replication to iterative replication for copy number maintenance. While selfish elements, including those integrated into chromosomes, rely on their hosts’ genetic potential for long-term survival, their genetic load is carefully regulated to minimize fitness conflicts with the hosts. Our study focuses on the Flp site-specific recombinase, which is central to the copy number control of the 2-micron plasmid and whose steady state levels are regulated through transcriptional control by plasmid coded proteins and through post-translational modification by the host’s sumoylation machinery. We demonstrate that sumoylation, in addition, attenuates the catalytic activity of Flp by diminishing its DNA binding affinity and inter-monomer cooperativity, providing another layer of protection against runaway increase in plasmid copy number. Population control by self-imposed and host-mediated mechanisms is likely a general strategy among selfish elements to ensure nearly conflict-free coexistence with host genomes.

Replication protein A (RPA) sumoylation positively influences the DNA damage checkpoint response in yeast

The DNA damage response relies on protein modifications to elicit physiological changes required for coping with genotoxic conditions. Besides canonical DNA damage checkpoint-mediated phosphorylation, DNA damage-induced sumoylation has recently been shown to promote genotoxin survival. Cross-talk between these two pathways exists in both yeast and human cells. In particular, sumoylation is required for optimal checkpoint function, but the underlying mechanisms are not well-understood. To address this question, we examined the sumoylation of the first responder to DNA lesions, the ssDNA-binding protein complex replication protein A (RPA) in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We delineated the sumoylation sites of the RPA large subunit, Rfa1 on the basis of previous and new mapping data. Findings using a sumoylation-defective Rfa1 mutant suggested that Rfa1 sumoylation acts in parallel with the 9-1-1 checkpoint complex to enhance the DNA damage checkpoint response. Mechanistically, sumoylated Rfa1 fostered an interaction with a checkpoint adaptor protein, Sgs1, and contributed to checkpoint kinase activation. Our results suggest that SUMO-based modulation of a DNA damage sensor positively influences the checkpoint response.

Dual Regulation of Host TRAIP Post-translation and Nuclear/Plasma Distribution by Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Non-structural Protein 1α Promotes Viral Proliferation

In this study, we show that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) non-structural protein 1α (nsp1α) facilitates PRRSV escape from innate immune by modulating nuclear to cytoplasmic translocation and distribution ratio of TRAIP to promote virus proliferation. Mechanistically, TRAIP interacts with PRRSV nsp1α via its K205 site, while NSP1α decreases the SUMOylation and K48 ubiquitination independent of the TRAIP interaction K205 site. Modulation of the dual modification of TRAIP by PRRSV nsp1α results in over-enrichment of TRAIP in the cytoplasm. Enrichment of nsp1α-induced cytoplasmic TRAIP in turn leads to excessive K48 ubiquitination and degradation of serine/threonine-protein kinase (TBK1), thereby antagonizing TBK1-IRF3-IFN signaling. This study proposes a novel mechanism by which PRRSV utilizes host proteins to regulate innate immunity. Findings from this study provides novel perspective to advance our understanding in the pathogenesis of PRRSV.

Slx5-Slx8 ubiquitin ligase targets active pools of the Yen1 nuclease to limit crossover formation

The repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination involves the formation of branched intermediates that can lead to crossovers following nucleolytic resolution. The nucleases Mus81-Mms4 and Yen1 are tightly controlled during the cell cycle to limit the extent of crossover formation and preserve genome integrity. Here we show that Yen1 is further regulated by sumoylation and ubiquitination. In vivo, Yen1 becomes sumoylated under conditions of DNA damage by the redundant activities of Siz1 and Siz2 SUMO ligases. Yen1 is also a substrate of the Slx5-Slx8 ubiquitin ligase. Loss of Slx5-Slx8 stabilizes the sumoylated fraction, attenuates Yen1 degradation at the G1/S transition, and results in persistent localization of Yen1 in nuclear foci. Slx5-Slx8-dependent ubiquitination of Yen1 occurs mainly at K714 and mutation of this lysine increases crossover formation during DSB repair and suppresses chromosome segregation defects in a mus81∆ background.

Nucleases are regulated during the cell cycle to control for crossover formation and maintain genome integrity. Here the authors reveal that the yeast Holliday junction resolvase Yen is a sumoylation target and it is regulated by the ubiquitin ligases Slx5/Slx8 during crossover formation.

And yet, it moves: nuclear and chromatin dynamics of a heterochromatic double-strand break

Heterochromatin is mostly composed of repeated DNA sequences prone to aberrant recombination. How cells maintain the stability of these sequences during double-strand break (DSB) repair has been a long-standing mystery. Studies in Drosophila cells revealed that faithful homologous recombination repair of heterochromatic DSBs relies on the striking relocalization of repair sites to the nuclear periphery before Rad51 recruitment and repair progression. Here, we summarize our current understanding of this response, including the molecular mechanisms involved, and conserved pathways in mammalian cells. We will highlight important similarities with pathways identified in budding yeast for repair of other types of repeated sequences, including rDNA and short telomeres. We will also discuss the emerging role of chromatin composition and regulation in heterochromatin repair progression. Together, these discoveries challenged previous assumptions that repair sites are substantially static in multicellular eukaryotes, that heterochromatin is largely inert in the presence of DSBs, and that silencing and compaction in this domain are obstacles to repair.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Chromatin modifiers and remodellers in DNA repair and signalling’.

The INO80 remodeller in transcription, replication and repair

The accessibility of eukaryotic genomes to the action of enzymes involved in transcription, replication and repair is maintained despite the organization of DNA into nucleosomes. This access is often regulated by the action of ATP-dependent nucleosome remodellers. The INO80 class of nucleosome remodellers has unique structural features and it is implicated in a diverse array of functions, including transcriptional regulation, DNA replication and DNA repair. Underlying these diverse functions is the catalytic activity of the main ATPase subunit, which in the context of a multisubunit complex can shift nucleosomes and carry out histone dimer exchange. In vitro studies showed that INO80 promotes replication fork progression on a chromatin template, while in vivo it was shown to facilitate replication fork restart after stalling and to help evict RNA polymerase II at transcribed genes following the collision of a replication fork with transcription. More recent work in yeast implicates INO80 in the general eviction and degradation of nucleosomes following high doses of oxidative DNA damage. Beyond these replication and repair functions, INO80 was shown to repress inappropriate transcription at promoters in the opposite direction to the coding sequence. Here we discuss the ways in which INO80's diverse functions help maintain genome integrity.This article is part of the themed issue 'Chromatin modifiers and remodellers in DNA repair and signalling'.

DNA binding by the MATα2 transcription factor controls its access to alternative ubiquitin-modification pathways

Like many transcription factors, the yeast protein MATalpha2 (α2) undergoes rapid proteolysis via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). At least two ubiquitylation pathways regulate α2 degradation: one pathway utilizes the ubiquitin ligase (E3) Doa10 and the other the heterodimeric E3 Slx5/Slx8. Doa10 is a transmembrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum/inner nuclear membrane, whereas Slx5/Slx8 localizes to the nucleus and binds DNA nonspecifically. While a single protein can often be ubiquitylated by multiple pathways, the reasons for this “division of labor” are not well understood. Here we show that α2 mutants with impaired DNA binding become inaccessible to the Slx5/Slx8 pathway but are still rapidly degraded through efficient shunting to the Doa10 pathway. These results are consistent with the distinct localization of these E3s. We also characterized a novel class of DNA binding-defective α2 variants whose degradation is strongly impaired. Our genetic data suggest that this is due to a gain-of-function interaction that limits their access to Doa10. Together, these results suggest multiple ubiquitin-ligation mechanisms may have evolved to promote rapid destruction of a transcription factor that resides in distinct cellular subcompartments under different conditions. Moreover, gain-of-function mutations, which also occur with oncogenic forms of human transcription factors such as p53, may derail this fail-safe system.

Functions of SUMO in the Maintenance of Genome Stability

Like in most other areas of cellular metabolism, the functions of the ubiquitin-like modifier SUMO in the maintenance of genome stability are manifold and varied. Perturbations of global sumoylation causes a wide spectrum of phenotypes associated with defects in DNA maintenance, such as hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, gross chromosomal rearrangements and loss of entire chromosomes. Consistent with these observations, many key factors involved in various DNA repair pathways have been identified as SUMO substrates. However, establishing a functional connection between a given SUMO target, the cognate SUMO ligase and a relevant phenotype has remained a challenge, mainly because of the difficulties involved in identifying important modification sites and downstream effectors that specifically recognize the target in its sumoylated state. This review will give an overview over the major pathways of DNA repair and genome maintenance influenced by the SUMO system and discuss selected examples of SUMO's actions in these pathways where the biological consequences of the modification have been elucidated.

Genome maintenance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the role of SUMO and SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases

The genome of the cell is often exposed to DNA damaging agents and therefore requires an intricate well-regulated DNA damage response (DDR) to overcome its deleterious effects. The DDR needs proper regulation for its timely activation, repression, as well as appropriate choice of repair pathway. Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have advanced our understanding of the DNA damage response, as well as the mechanisms the cell employs to maintain genome stability and how these mechanisms are regulated. Eukaryotic cells utilize post-translational modifications as a means for fine-tuning protein functions. Ubiquitylation and SUMOylation involve the attachment of small protein molecules onto proteins to modulate function or protein–protein interactions. SUMO in particular, was shown to act as a molecular glue when DNA damage occurs, facilitating the assembly of large protein complexes in repair foci. In other instances, SUMOylation alters a protein's biochemical activities, and interactions. SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) are enzymes that target SUMOylated proteins for ubiquitylation and subsequent degradation, providing a function for the SUMO modification in the regulation and disassembly of repair complexes. Here, we discuss the major contributions of SUMO and STUbLs in the regulation of DNA damage repair pathways as well as in the maintenance of critical regions of the genome, namely rDNA regions, telomeres and the 2 μm circle in budding yeast.

Relocalization of DNA lesions to the nuclear pore complex

Early screens in yeast for mutations exhibiting sensitivity to DNA damage identified nuclear pore components, but their role in DNA repair was not well understood. Over the last decade, studies have revealed that several types of persistent DNA lesions relocate to either the nuclear pore complex (NPC) or nuclear envelope (NE). Of these two sites, the nuclear pore appears to be crucial for DNA repair of persistent double-strand breaks, eroded telomeres and sites of fork collapse at expanded CAG repeats. Using a combination of cell biological imaging techniques and yeast genetic assays for DNA repair, researchers have begun to understand both the how and why of lesion relocation to the NPC. Here we review the types of lesions that relocate to the NPC, mediators of relocation and the functional consequences of relocation understood to date. The emerging theme is that relocation to the NPC regulates recombination to influence repair pathway choice and provide a rescue mechanism for lesions or DNA structures that are resistant to repair.

The LSH/HELLS homolog Irc5 contributes to cohesin association with chromatin in yeast

Accurate chromosome segregation is essential for every living cell as unequal distribution of chromosomes during cell division may result in genome instability that manifests in carcinogenesis and developmental disorders. Irc5 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a member of the conserved Snf2 family of ATP-dependent DNA translocases and its function is poorly understood. Here, we identify Irc5 as a novel interactor of the cohesin complex. Irc5 associates with Scc1 cohesin subunit and contributes to cohesin binding to chromatin. Disruption of IRC5 decreases cohesin levels at centromeres and chromosome arms, causing premature sister chromatid separation. Moreover, reduced cohesin occupancy at the rDNA region in cells lacking IRC5 leads to the loss of rDNA repeats. We also show that the translocase activity of Irc5 is required for its function in cohesion pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that in the absence of Irc5 both the level of chromatin-bound Scc2, a member of cohesin loading complex, and physical interaction between Scc1 and Scc2 are reduced. Our results suggest that Irc5 is an auxiliary factor that is involved in cohesin association with chromatin.

A Lysine Desert Protects a Novel Domain in the Slx5-Slx8 SUMO Targeted Ub Ligase To Maintain Sumoylation Levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein modification by the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) plays important roles in genome maintenance. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proper regulation of sumoylation is known to be essential for viability in certain DNA repair mutants. Here, we find the opposite result; proper regulation of sumoylation is lethal in certain DNA repair mutants. Yeast cells lacking the repair factors TDP1 and WSS1 are synthetically lethal due to their redundant roles in removing Top1-DNA covalent complexes (Top1ccs). A screen for suppressors of tdp1∆ wss1∆ synthetic lethality isolated mutations in genes known to control global sumoylation levels including ULP1, ULP2, SIZ2, and SLX5 The results suggest that alternative pathways of repair become available when sumoylation levels are altered. Curiously, both suppressor mutations that were isolated in the Slx5 subunit of the SUMO-targeted Ub ligase created new lysine residues. These "slx5-K" mutations localize to a 398 amino acid domain that is completely free of lysine, and they result in the auto-ubiquitination and partial proteolysis of Slx5. The decrease in Slx5-K protein leads to the accumulation of high molecular weight SUMO conjugates, and the residual Ub ligase activity is needed to suppress inviability presumably by targeting polysumoylated Top1ccs. This "lysine desert" is found in the subset of large fungal Slx5 proteins, but not its smaller orthologs such as RNF4. The lysine desert solves a problem that Ub ligases encounter when evolving novel functional domains.

A New Method, "Reverse Yeast Two-Hybrid Array" (RYTHA), Identifies Mutants that Dissociate the Physical Interaction Between Elg1 and Slx5

The vast majority of processes within the cell are carried out by proteins working in conjunction. The Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) methodology allows the detection of physical interactions between any two interacting proteins. Here, we describe a novel systematic genetic methodology, "Reverse Yeast Two-Hybrid Array" (RYTHA), that allows the identification of proteins required for modulating the physical interaction between two given proteins. Our assay starts with a yeast strain in which the physical interaction of interest can be detected by growth on media lacking histidine, in the context of the Y2H methodology. By combining the synthetic genetic array technology, we can systematically screen mutant libraries of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify trans-acting mutations that disrupt the physical interaction of interest. We apply this novel method in a screen for mutants that disrupt the interaction between the N-terminus of Elg1 and the Slx5 protein. Elg1 is part of an alternative replication factor C-like complex that unloads PCNA during DNA replication and repair. Slx5 forms, together with Slx8, a SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) believed to send proteins to degradation. Our results show that the interaction requires both the STUbL activity and the PCNA unloading by Elg1, and identify topoisomerase I DNA-protein cross-links as a major factor in separating the two activities. Thus, we demonstrate that RYTHA can be applied to gain insights about particular pathways in yeast, by uncovering the connection between the proteasomal ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathway, DNA replication, and repair machinery, which can be separated by the topoisomerase-mediated cross-links to DNA.

A high throughput mutagenic analysis of yeast sumo structure and function

Sumoylation regulates a wide range of essential cellular functions through diverse mechanisms that remain to be fully understood. Using S. cerevisiae, a model organism with a single essential SUMO gene (SMT3), we developed a library of >250 mutant strains with single or multiple amino acid substitutions of surface or core residues in the Smt3 protein. By screening this library using plate-based assays, we have generated a comprehensive structure-function based map of Smt3, revealing essential amino acid residues and residues critical for function under a variety of genotoxic and proteotoxic stress conditions. Functionally important residues mapped to surfaces affecting Smt3 precursor processing and deconjugation from protein substrates, covalent conjugation to protein substrates, and non-covalent interactions with E3 ligases and downstream effector proteins containing SUMO-interacting motifs. Lysine residues potentially involved in formation of polymeric chains were also investigated, revealing critical roles for polymeric chains, but redundancy in specific chain linkages. Collectively, our findings provide important insights into the molecular basis of signaling through sumoylation. Moreover, the library of Smt3 mutants represents a valuable resource for further exploring the functions of sumoylation in cellular stress response and other SUMO-dependent pathways.

The Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) is a 100 amino acid protein that is attached to other proteins and thereby regulates nearly all essential cell functions. To explore how this small protein modifier functions to regulate so many different processes, we generated a library of >250 mutant alleles of the SUMO gene in the budding yeast, S. cerevisiae. Our analysis of these mutants provides the first comprehensive structure-function based map of the SUMO protein and identifies conditional mutant alleles that can be used to explore the role of sumoylation in protecting cells from proteotoxic and genotoxic stress.

Nuclear Dynamics of Heterochromatin Repair

Repairing double-strand breaks (DSBs) is particularly challenging in pericentromeric heterochromatin, where the abundance of repeated sequences exacerbates the risk of ectopic recombination and chromosome rearrangements. Recent studies in Drosophila cells revealed that faithful homologous recombination (HR) repair of heterochromatic DSBs relies on the relocalization of DSBs to the nuclear periphery before Rad51 recruitment. We summarize here the exciting progress in understanding this pathway, including conserved responses in mammalian cells and surprising similarities with mechanisms in yeast that deal with DSBs in distinct sites that are difficult to repair, including other repeated sequences. We will also point out some of the most important open questions in the field and emerging evidence suggesting that deregulating these pathways might have dramatic consequences for human health.

Direct screening for chromatin status on DNA barcodes in yeast delineates the regulome of H3K79 methylation by Dot1

Given the frequent misregulation of chromatin in cancer, it is important to understand the cellular mechanisms that regulate chromatin structure. However, systematic screening for epigenetic regulators is challenging and often relies on laborious assays or indirect reporter read-outs. Here we describe a strategy, Epi-ID, to directly assess chromatin status in thousands of mutants. In Epi-ID, chromatin status on DNA barcodes is interrogated by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing, allowing for quantitative comparison of many mutants in parallel. Screening of a barcoded yeast knock-out collection for regulators of histone H3K79 methylation by Dot1 identified all known regulators as well as novel players and processes. These include histone deposition, homologous recombination, and adenosine kinase, which influences the methionine cycle. Gcn5, the acetyltransferase within the SAGA complex, was found to regulate histone methylation and H2B ubiquitination. The concept of Epi-ID is widely applicable and can be readily applied to other chromatin features.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18919.001

To fit into the nucleus of eukaryotic cells (which include plant, animal and yeast cells), DNA wraps around histone proteins to form a structure called chromatin. Histones can be modified by a variety of chemical tags, which affect how easily nearby DNA can be accessed by other molecules in the cell. These modifications therefore help to control the activity of the genes encoded in the DNA and other key processes such as DNA repair.

If histone modifications are not regulated correctly, diseases such as cancer may result. Enzymes generally perform the actual modification, but there is another layer of regulation that controls the activity of these enzymes that not much is known about.

The activity of an enzyme that performs a histone modification known as H3K79 methylation (which involves a methyl chemical group being added to a particular region of a particular histone protein) has been linked to some forms of leukemia. Collections of mutant yeast cells can be used to identify the factors that regulate histone modifications in both yeast and human cells. However, current methods that screen for these regulators are time consuming.

To make the search for histone modification regulators more efficient, Vlaming et al. developed a new screening procedure called Epi-ID that can measure the amount of a specific histone modification in thousands of budding yeast mutants at the same time. In Epi-ID, each mutant yeast cell has a unique DNA sequence, or “barcode”. The mutant cells are mixed together and the barcodes that are modified by a particular histone modification – such as H3K79 methylation – are isolated and then counted using a DNA sequencing technique. A high barcode count of a certain mutant indicates that more of the histone modification occurs in that mutant.

Using Epi-ID to survey H3K79 methylation enabled Vlaming et al. to successfully identify all previously known H3K79 methylation regulators, as well several new ones. These new regulators included enzymes that deposit histones on DNA, that carry out DNA repair, and that modify or de-modify histone proteins. To move forward with the newly identified regulators, it will be important to analyze how they control H3K79 methylation in yeast cells and to determine whether the regulators also control H3K79 methylation in human cells.

Finally, Epi-ID can be used to identify regulators of other types of histone modifications. A better understanding of chromatin regulation – and H3K79 methylation regulation in particular – can increase our understanding of diseases in which chromatin is deregulated, and may yield new strategies for the treatment of such diseases.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18919.002

Smc5/6 Mediated Sumoylation of the Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 Complex Promotes Removal of Recombination Intermediates

Timely removal of DNA recombination intermediates is critical for genome stability. The DNA helicase-topoisomerase complex, Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 (STR), is the major pathway for processing these intermediates to generate conservative products. However, the mechanisms that promote STR-mediated functions remain to be defined. Here we show that Sgs1 binds to poly-SUMO chains and associates with the Smc5/6 SUMO E3 complex in yeast. Moreover, these interactions contribute to the sumoylation of Sgs1, Top3, and Rmi1 upon the generation of recombination structures. We show that reduced STR sumoylation leads to accumulation of recombination structures, and impaired growth in conditions when these structures arise frequently, highlighting the importance of STR sumoylation. Mechanistically, sumoylation promotes STR inter-subunit interactions and accumulation at DNA repair centers. These findings expand the roles of sumoylation and Smc5/6 in genome maintenance by demonstrating that they foster STR functions in the removal of recombination intermediates.

Functions of Ubiquitin and SUMO in DNA Replication and Replication Stress

Complete and faithful duplication of its entire genetic material is one of the essential prerequisites for a proliferating cell to maintain genome stability. Yet, during replication DNA is particularly vulnerable to insults. On the one hand, lesions in replicating DNA frequently cause a stalling of the replication machinery, as most DNA polymerases cannot cope with defective templates. This situation is aggravated by the fact that strand separation in preparation for DNA synthesis prevents common repair mechanisms relying on strand complementarity, such as base and nucleotide excision repair, from working properly. On the other hand, the replication process itself subjects the DNA to a series of hazardous transformations, ranging from the exposure of single-stranded DNA to topological contortions and the generation of nicks and fragments, which all bear the risk of inducing genomic instability. Dealing with these problems requires rapid and flexible responses, for which posttranslational protein modifications that act independently of protein synthesis are particularly well suited. Hence, it is not surprising that members of the ubiquitin family, particularly ubiquitin itself and SUMO, feature prominently in controlling many of the defensive and restorative measures involved in the protection of DNA during replication. In this review we will discuss the contributions of ubiquitin and SUMO to genome maintenance specifically as they relate to DNA replication. We will consider cases where the modifiers act during regular, i.e., unperturbed stages of replication, such as initiation, fork progression, and termination, but also give an account of their functions in dealing with lesions, replication stalling and fork collapse.

SUMOylation of Rad52-Rad59 synergistically change the outcome of mitotic recombination

Homologous recombination (HR) is essential for maintenance of genome stability through double-strand break (DSB) repair, but at the same time HR can lead to loss of heterozygosity and uncontrolled recombination can be genotoxic. The post-translational modification by SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) has been shown to modulate recombination, but the exact mechanism of this regulation remains unclear. Here we show that SUMOylation stabilizes the interaction between the recombination mediator Rad52 and its paralogue Rad59 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although Rad59 SUMOylation is not required for survival after genotoxic stress, it affects the outcome of recombination to promote conservative DNA repair. In some genetic assays, Rad52 and Rad59 SUMOylation act synergistically. Collectively, our data indicate that the described SUMO modifications affect the balance between conservative and non-conservative mechanisms of HR.

SUMO Pathway Modulation of Regulatory Protein Binding at the Ribosomal DNA Locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In this report, we identify cellular targets of Ulp2, one of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteases, and investigate the function of SUMO modification of these proteins. PolySUMO conjugates from ulp2Δ and ulp2Δ slx5Δ cells were isolated using an engineered affinity reagent containing the four SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs) of Slx5, a component of the Slx5/Slx8 SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL). Two proteins identified, Net1 and Tof2, regulate ribosomal DNA (rDNA) silencing and were found to be hypersumoylated in ulp2Δ,slx5Δ, and ulp2Δ slx5Δ cells. The increase in sumoylation of Net1 and Tof2 in ulp2Δ, but not ulp1ts cells, indicates that these nucleolar proteins are specific substrates of Ulp2 Based on quantitative chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays, both Net1 and Tof2 lose binding to their rDNA sites in ulp2Δ cells and both factors largely regain this association in ulp2Δ slx5Δ A parsimonious interpretation of these results is that hypersumoylation of these proteins causes them to be ubiquitylated by Slx5/Slx8, impairing their association with rDNA. Fob1, a protein that anchors both Net1 and Tof2 to the replication-fork barrier (RFB) in the rDNA repeats, is sumoylated in wild-type cells, and its modification levels increase specifically in ulp2Δ cells. Fob1 experiences a 50% reduction in rDNA binding in ulp2Δ cells, which is also rescued by elimination of Slx5 Additionally, overexpression of Sir2, another RFB-associated factor, suppresses the growth defect of ulp2Δ cells. Our data suggest that regulation of rDNA regulatory proteins by Ulp2 and the Slx5/Slx8 STUbL may be the cause of multiple ulp2Δ cellular defects.

Heterochromatic breaks move to the nuclear periphery to continue recombinational repair

Heterochromatin mostly comprises repeated sequences prone to harmful ectopic recombination during double-strand break (DSB) repair. In Drosophila cells, ‘safe’ homologous recombination (HR) repair of heterochromatic breaks relies on a specialized pathway that relocalizes damaged sequences away from the heterochromatin domain before strand invasion. Here we show that heterochromatic DSBs move to the nuclear periphery to continue HR repair. Relocalization depends on nuclear pore and inner nuclear membrane proteins (INMPs) that anchor repair sites to the nuclear periphery via the Smc5/6-interacting proteins STUbL/RENi. Both the initial block to HR progression inside the heterochromatin domain, and the targeting of repair sites to the nuclear periphery, rely on SUMO and SUMO E3 ligases. This study reveals a critical role for SUMOylation in the spatial and temporal regulation of HR repair in heterochromatin, and identifies the nuclear periphery as a specialized site for heterochromatin repair in a multicellular eukaryote.

Managing Single-Stranded DNA during Replication Stress in Fission Yeast

Replication fork stalling generates a variety of responses, most of which cause an increase in single-stranded DNA. ssDNA is a primary signal of replication distress that activates cellular checkpoints. It is also a potential source of genome instability and a substrate for mutation and recombination. Therefore, managing ssDNA levels is crucial to chromosome integrity. Limited ssDNA accumulation occurs in wild-type cells under stress. In contrast, cells lacking the replication checkpoint cannot arrest forks properly and accumulate large amounts of ssDNA. This likely occurs when the replication fork polymerase and helicase units are uncoupled. Some cells with mutations in the replication helicase (mcm-ts) mimic checkpoint-deficient cells, and accumulate extensive areas of ssDNA to trigger the G2-checkpoint. Another category of helicase mutant (mcm4-degron) causes fork stalling in early S-phase due to immediate loss of helicase function. Intriguingly, cells realize that ssDNA is present, but fail to detect that they accumulate ssDNA, and continue to divide. Thus, the cellular response to replication stalling depends on checkpoint activity and the time that replication stress occurs in S-phase. In this review we describe the signs, signals, and symptoms of replication arrest from an ssDNA perspective. We explore the possible mechanisms for these effects. We also advise the need for caution when detecting and interpreting data related to the accumulation of ssDNA.

STUbL-mediated degradation of the transcription factor MATα2 requires degradation elements that coincide with corepressor binding sites

The yeast cell type regulator MATα (α2) is degraded through two ubiquitylation pathways, one of which has been minimally characterized. We identify two regions in α2 important for this pathway and show that these regions overlap specific binding sites for α2 corepressors, suggesting that α2 degradation is coordinated with its functional status.

The yeast transcription factor MATα2 (α2) is a short-lived protein known to be ubiquitylated by two distinct pathways, one involving the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) Ubc6 and Ubc7 and the ubiquitin ligase (E3) Doa10 and the other operating with the E2 Ubc4 and the heterodimeric E3 Slx5/Slx8. Although Slx5/Slx8 is a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL), it does not require SUMO to target α2 but instead directly recognizes α2. Little is known about the α2 determinants required for its Ubc4- and STUbL-mediated degradation or how these determinants substitute for SUMO in recognition by the STUbL pathway. We describe two distinct degradation elements within α2, both of which are necessary for α2 recognition specifically by the Ubc4 pathway. Slx5/Slx8 can directly ubiquitylate a C-terminal fragment of α2, and mutating one of the degradation elements impairs this ubiquitylation. Surprisingly, both degradation elements identified here overlap specific interaction sites for α2 corepressors: the Mcm1 interaction site in the central α2 linker and the Ssn6 (Cyc8) binding site in the α2 homeodomain. We propose that competitive binding to α2 by the ubiquitylation machinery and α2 cofactors is balanced so that α2 can function in transcription repression yet be short lived enough to allow cell-type switching.

Mechanisms and regulation of mitotic recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Homology-dependent exchange of genetic information between DNA molecules has a profound impact on the maintenance of genome integrity by facilitating error-free DNA repair, replication, and chromosome segregation during cell division as well as programmed cell developmental events. This chapter will focus on homologous mitotic recombination in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, there is an important link between mitotic and meiotic recombination (covered in the forthcoming chapter by Hunter et al. 2015) and many of the functions are evolutionarily conserved. Here we will discuss several models that have been proposed to explain the mechanism of mitotic recombination, the genes and proteins involved in various pathways, the genetic and physical assays used to discover and study these genes, and the roles of many of these proteins inside the cell.

System-wide identification of wild-type SUMO-2 conjugation sites

SUMOylation is a reversible post-translational modification (PTM) regulating all nuclear processes. Identification of SUMOylation sites by mass spectrometry (MS) has been hampered by bulky tryptic fragments, which thus far necessitated the use of mutated SUMO. Here we present a SUMO-specific protease-based methodology which circumvents this problem, dubbed Protease-Reliant Identification of SUMO Modification (PRISM). PRISM allows for detection of SUMOylated proteins as well as identification of specific sites of SUMOylation while using wild-type SUMO. The method is generic and could be widely applied to study lysine PTMs. We employ PRISM in combination with high-resolution MS to identify SUMOylation sites from HeLa cells under standard growth conditions and in response to heat shock. We identified 751 wild-type SUMOylation sites on endogenous proteins, including 200 dynamic SUMO sites in response to heat shock. Thus, we have developed a method capable of quantitatively studying wild-type mammalian SUMO at the site-specific and system-wide level.

Tryptic digestion of SUMOylated proteins generates large peptides, rendering proteomic characterisation of this post-translational modification particularly challenging unless mutant SUMO is used. Hendriks et al. present a method that allows the quantitative identification of wild-type SUMO sites.

DNA repair defects ascribed to pby1 are caused by disruption of Holliday junction resolvase Mus81-Mms4

PBY1 continues to be linked with DNA repair through functional genomics studies in yeast. Using the yeast knockout (YKO) strain collection, high-throughput genetic interaction screens have identified a large set of negative interactions between PBY1 and genes involved in genome stability. In drug sensitivity screens, the YKO collection pby1Δ strain exhibits a sensitivity profile typical for genes involved in DNA replication and repair. We show that these findings are not related to loss of Pby1. On the basis of genetic interaction profile similarity, we pinpoint disruption of Holliday junction resolvase Mus81-Mms4 as the mutation responsible for DNA repair phenotypes currently ascribed to pby1. The finding that Pby1 is not a DNA repair factor reconciles discrepancies in the data available for PBY1, and indirectly supports a role for Pby1 in mRNA metabolism. Data that has been collected using the YKO collection pby1Δ strain confirms and expands the chemical-genetic interactome of MUS81-MMS4.

Regulation of recombination at yeast nuclear pores controls repair and triplet repeat stability

Secondary structure-forming DNA sequences such as CAG repeats interfere with replication and repair, provoking fork stalling, chromosome fragility, and recombination. In budding yeast, Su et al. find that expanded CAG repeats are more likely than unexpanded repeats to localize to the nuclear periphery and that the relocation of damage to nuclear pores plays an important role in a naturally occurring repair process.

Secondary structure-forming DNA sequences such as CAG repeats interfere with replication and repair, provoking fork stalling, chromosome fragility, and recombination. In budding yeast, we found that expanded CAG repeats are more likely than unexpanded repeats to localize to the nuclear periphery. This positioning is transient, occurs in late S phase, requires replication, and is associated with decreased subnuclear mobility of the locus. In contrast to persistent double-stranded breaks, expanded CAG repeats at the nuclear envelope associate with pores but not with the inner nuclear membrane protein Mps3. Relocation requires Nup84 and the Slx5/8 SUMO-dependent ubiquitin ligase but not Rad51, Mec1, or Tel1. Importantly, the presence of the Nup84 pore subcomplex and Slx5/8 suppresses CAG repeat fragility and instability. Repeat instability in nup84, slx5, or slx8 mutant cells arises through aberrant homologous recombination and is distinct from instability arising from the loss of ligase 4-dependent end-joining. Genetic and physical analysis of Rad52 sumoylation and binding at the CAG tract suggests that Slx5/8 targets sumoylated Rad52 for degradation at the pore to facilitate recovery from acute replication stress by promoting replication fork restart. We thereby confirmed that the relocation of damage to nuclear pores plays an important role in a naturally occurring repair process.

Nuclear organization in DNA end processing: Telomeres vs double-strand breaks

Many proteins ligands are shared between double-strand breaks and natural chromosomal ends or telomeres. The structural similarity of the 3' overhang, and the efficiency of cellular DNA end degradation machineries, highlight the need for mechanisms that resect selectively to promote or restrict recombination events. Here we examine the means used by eukaryotic cells to suppress resection at telomeres, target telomerase to short telomeres, and process broken ends for appropriate repair. Not only molecular ligands, but the spatial sequestration of telomeres and damage likely ensure that these two very similar structures have very distinct outcomes with respect to the DNA damage response and repair.

The DNA damage response and checkpoint adaptation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: distinct roles for the replication protein A2 (Rfa2) N-terminus

In response to DNA damage, two general but fundamental processes occur in the cell: (1) a DNA lesion is recognized and repaired, and (2) concomitantly, the cell halts the cell cycle to provide a window of opportunity for repair to occur. An essential factor for a proper DNA-damage response is the heterotrimeric protein complex Replication Protein A (RPA). Of particular interest is hyperphosphorylation of the 32-kDa subunit, called RPA2, on its serine/threonine-rich amino (N) terminus following DNA damage in human cells. The unstructured N-terminus is often referred to as the phosphorylation domain and is conserved among eukaryotic RPA2 subunits, including Rfa2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An aspartic acid/alanine-scanning and genetic interaction approach was utilized to delineate the importance of this domain in budding yeast. It was determined that the Rfa2 N-terminus is important for a proper DNA-damage response in yeast, although its phosphorylation is not required. Subregions of the Rfa2 N-terminus important for the DNA-damage response were also identified. Finally, an Rfa2 N-terminal hyperphosphorylation-mimetic mutant behaves similarly to another Rfa1 mutant (rfa1-t11) with respect to genetic interactions, DNA-damage sensitivity, and checkpoint adaptation. Our data indicate that post-translational modification of the Rfa2 N-terminus is not required for cells to deal with "repairable" DNA damage; however, post-translational modification of this domain might influence whether cells proceed into M-phase in the continued presence of unrepaired DNA lesions as a "last-resort" mechanism for cell survival.

Sumoylation influences DNA break repair partly by increasing the solubility of a conserved end resection protein

Protein modifications regulate both DNA repair levels and pathway choice. How each modification achieves regulatory effects and how different modifications collaborate with each other are important questions to be answered. Here, we show that sumoylation regulates double-strand break repair partly by modifying the end resection factor Sae2. This modification is conserved from yeast to humans, and is induced by DNA damage. We mapped the sumoylation site of Sae2 to a single lysine in its self-association domain. Abolishing Sae2 sumoylation by mutating this lysine to arginine impaired Sae2 function in the processing and repair of multiple types of DNA breaks. We found that Sae2 sumoylation occurs independently of its phosphorylation, and the two modifications act in synergy to increase soluble forms of Sae2. We also provide evidence that sumoylation of the Sae2-binding nuclease, the Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 complex, further increases end resection. These findings reveal a novel role for sumoylation in DNA repair by regulating the solubility of an end resection factor. They also show that collaboration between different modifications and among multiple substrates leads to a stronger biological effect.

Proper repair of DNA lesions is crucial for cell growth and organism development. Both the choice and capacity of DNA repair pathways are tightly regulated in response to environmental cues and cell cycle phase. Recent work has uncovered the importance of protein modifications, such as phosphorylation and sumoylation, in this regulation. Sumoylation is known to be critical for the efficient repair of highly toxic DNA double-strand breaks in both yeast and humans, and this is partly mediated by influencing DNA end resection. However, it has been unclear for which resection factor sumoylation is important, how sumoylation influences specific attributes of the relevant targets, and how this modification is coordinated with phosphorylation-based regulation. Here, we provide exciting new insights into these issues by revealing that 1) a conserved end resection factor is a SUMO target relevant to this process, 2) this regulation favors a specific repair pathway, 3) sumoylation collaborates with phosphorylation to promote protein solubility, and 4) sumoylation influences DNA repair via an “ensemble effect” that entails simultaneous small alterations of multiple substrates. Our work reveals both a novel mechanism and a general principle for SUMO-mediated regulation of DNA repair.

Disruption of SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases Slx5-Slx8/RNF4 alters RecQ-like helicase Sgs1/BLM localization in yeast and human cells

RecQ-like helicases are a highly conserved protein family that functions during DNA repair and, when mutated in humans, is associated with cancer and/or premature aging syndromes. The budding yeast RecQ-like helicase Sgs1 has important functions in double-strand break (DSB) repair of exogenously induced breaks, as well as those that arise endogenously, for example during DNA replication. To further investigate Sgs1's regulation, we analyzed the subcellular localization of a fluorescent fusion of Sgs1 upon DNA damage. Consistent with a role in DSB repair, Sgs1 recruitment into nuclear foci in asynchronous cultures increases after ionizing radiation (IR) and after exposure to the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Yet, despite the importance of Sgs1 in replicative damage repair and in contrast to its elevated protein levels during S-phase, we find that the number of Sgs1 foci decreases upon nucleotide pool depletion by hydroxyurea (HU) treatment and that this negative regulation depends on the intra S-phase checkpoint kinase Mec1. Importantly, we identify the SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase (STUbL) complex Slx5-Slx8 as a negative regulator of Sgs1 foci, both spontaneously and upon replicative damage. Slx5-Slx8 regulation of Sgs1 foci is likely conserved in eukaryotes, since expression of the mammalian Slx5-Slx8 functional homologue, RNF4, restores Sgs1 focus number in slx8 cells and furthermore, knockdown of RNF4 leads to more BLM foci in U-2 OS cells. Our results point to a model where RecQ-like helicase subcellular localization is regulated by STUbLs in response to DNA damage, presumably to prevent illegitimate recombination events.

Elg1, a central player in genome stability

ELG1 is a conserved gene uncovered in a number of genetic screens in yeast aimed at identifying factors important in the maintenance of genome stability. Elg1's activity prevents gross chromosomal rearrangements, maintains proper telomere length regulation, helps repairing DNA damage created by a number of genotoxins and participates in sister chromatid cohesion. Elg1 is evolutionarily conserved, and its mammalian ortholog (also known as ATAD5) is embryonic lethal when lost in mice, acts as a tumor suppressor in mice and humans, exhibits physical interactions with components of the human Fanconi Anemia pathway and may be responsible for some of the phenotypes associated with neurofibromatosis. In this review, we summarize the information available on Elg1-related activities in yeast and mammals, and present models to explain how the different phenotypes observed in the absence of Elg1 activity are related.

RPA-coated single-stranded DNA as a platform for post-translational modifications in the DNA damage response

The Replication Protein A (RPA) complex is an essential regulator of eukaryotic DNA metabolism. RPA avidly binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) through multiple oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding folds and coordinates the recruitment and exchange of genome maintenance factors to regulate DNA replication, recombination and repair. The RPA-ssDNA platform also constitutes a key physiological signal which activates the master ATR kinase to protect and repair stalled or collapsed replication forks during replication stress. In recent years, the RPA complex has emerged as a key target and an important regulator of post-translational modifications in response to DNA damage, which is critical for its genome guardian functions. Phosphorylation and SUMOylation of the RPA complex, and more recently RPA-regulated ubiquitination, have all been shown to control specific aspects of DNA damage signaling and repair by modulating the interactions between RPA and its partners. Here, we review our current understanding of the critical functions of the RPA-ssDNA platform in the maintenance of genome stability and its regulation through an elaborate network of covalent modifications.

Swi2/Snf2-like protein Uls1 functions in the Sgs1-dependent pathway of maintenance of rDNA stability and alleviation of replication stress

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Uls1 belongs to the Swi2/Snf2 family of DNA-dependent ATPases and a new protein family of SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases. Here we show that Uls1 is implicated in DNA repair independently of the replication stress response pathways mediated by the endonucleases Mus81 and Yen1 and the helicases Mph1 and Srs2. Uls1 works together with Sgs1 and we demonstrate that the attenuation of replication stress-related defects in sgs1Δ by deletion of ULS1 depends on a functional of Rad51 recombinase and post-replication repair pathway mediated by Rad18 and Rad5, but not on the translesion polymerase, Rev3. The higher resistance of sgs1Δ uls1Δ mutants to genotoxic stress compared to single sgs1Δ cells is not the result of decreased formation or accelerated resolution of recombination-dependent DNA structures. Instead, deletion of ULS1 restores stability of the rDNA region in sgs1Δ cells. Our data suggest that Uls1 may contribute to genomic stability during DNA synthesis and channel the repair of replication lesions into the Sgs1-dependent pathway, with DNA translocase and SUMO binding activities of Uls1 as well as a RING domain being essential for its functions in replication stress response.

Sumoylation of the Rad1 nuclease promotes DNA repair and regulates its DNA association

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rad1-Rad10 complex is a conserved, structure-specific endonuclease important for repairing multiple types of DNA lesions. Upon recruitment to lesion sites, Rad1-Rad10 removes damaged sequences, enabling subsequent gap filling and ligation. Acting at mid-steps of repair, the association and dissociation of Rad1-Rad10 with DNA can influence repair efficiency. We show that genotoxin-enhanced Rad1 sumoylation occurs after the nuclease is recruited to lesion sites. A single lysine outside Rad1's nuclease and Rad10-binding domains is sumoylated in vivo and in vitro. Mutation of this site to arginine abolishes Rad1 sumoylation and impairs Rad1-mediated repair at high doses of DNA damage, but sustains the repair of a single double-stranded break. The timing of Rad1 sumoylation and the phenotype bias toward high lesion loads point to a post-incision role for sumoylation, possibly affecting Rad1 dissociation from DNA. Indeed, biochemical examination shows that sumoylation of Rad1 decreases the complex's affinity for DNA without affecting other protein properties. These findings suggest a model whereby sumoylation of Rad1 promotes its disengagement from DNA after nuclease cleavage, allowing it to efficiently attend to large numbers of DNA lesions.

Replisome components--post-translational modifications and their effects

The process of DNA replication is highly regulated, but at the same time very dynamic. Once S-phase is initiated and replication elongation is occurring, the cells are committed to complete replication in order to ensure genome stability and survival. Many pathways exist to resolve situations where normal replisome progression is not possible. It is becoming more and more evident that post-translational modifications of replisome components play a key role in regulating these pathways which ensure fork progression. Here we review the known modifications of the progressing replisome and how these modifications are thought to affect DNA replication in unperturbed and perturbed S-phases.

Pds5 prevents the PolySUMO-dependent separation of sister chromatids

BACKGROUND

The establishment, maintenance, and dissolution of sister chromatid cohesion are sequentially coordinated during the cell cycle to ensure faithful chromosome transmission. This cell-cycle-dependent regulation of cohesion is mediated, in part, by distinct posttranslational modifications of cohesin, a protein complex consisting of the Smc1-Smc3 ATPase, the Mcd1/Scc1 α-kleisin, and Scc3. Although cohesion is established in S phase, cohesins are not sufficient to maintain cohesion as cells progress from G2 to the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Rather, the cohesin-associated factor Pds5 is also required to keep sisters paired until anaphase onset. How Pds5 maintains cohesion at the molecular level and whether this maintenance involves the regulation of cohesin modifications remains to be defined.

RESULTS

In pds5 mutants, we find that Mcd1 is extensively SUMOylated and that premature sister separation requires Siz2-dependent polySUMOylation. Moreover, abrogation of Pds5 function promotes the proteasome-dependent degradation of Mcd1 and a significant loss of cohesin from chromatin independently of anaphase onset. We further demonstrate that inactivation of the Slx5-Slx8 SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligase, required for targeting polySUMOylated factors for proteasome-mediated destruction, limits Mcd1 turnover and restores both cell growth and cohesion in metaphase cells defective for Pds5 function.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that Pds5 maintains cohesion, at least in part, by antagonizing the polySUMO-dependent degradation of cohesin.

The PCNA interaction protein box sequence in Rad54 is an integral part of its ATPase domain and is required for efficient DNA repair and recombination

Rad54 is an ATP-driven translocase involved in the genome maintenance pathway of homologous recombination (HR). Although its activity has been implicated in several steps of HR, its exact role(s) at each step are still not fully understood. We have identified a new interaction between Rad54 and the replicative DNA clamp, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). This interaction was only mildly weakened by the mutation of two key hydrophobic residues in the highly-conserved PCNA interaction motif (PIP-box) of Rad54 (Rad54-AA). Intriguingly, the rad54-AA mutant cells displayed sensitivity to DNA damage and showed HR defects similar to the null mutant, despite retaining its ability to interact with HR proteins and to be recruited to HR foci in vivo. We therefore surmised that the PCNA interaction might be impaired in vivo and was unable to promote repair synthesis during HR. Indeed, the Rad54-AA mutant was defective in primer extension at the MAT locus as well as in vitro, but additional biochemical analysis revealed that this mutant also had diminished ATPase activity and an inability to promote D-loop formation. Further mutational analysis of the putative PIP-box uncovered that other phenotypically relevant mutants in this domain also resulted in a loss of ATPase activity. Therefore, we have found that although Rad54 interacts with PCNA, the PIP-box motif likely plays only a minor role in stabilizing the PCNA interaction, and rather, this conserved domain is probably an extension of the ATPase domain III.